Selvage forming mechanism for needle looms



Jan. 9, 1951 w, ROBINSON 2,537,158

' SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE LOOOMS Filed Dec. 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 My AM/ W Jan. 9, 1951 P. w. ROBINSON 2,537,158

SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE LOOOMS Filed Dec. 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 9, 1951 P. W. ROBlNSON SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE LOOOMS Filed Dec. 7, 1948 4 Sheet s-Sheet I5 NVENTQR 622a; war/z MM Jan. 1951 P. w. ROBINSON 2,537,158

SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE LOOOMS Filed Dec. 7, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet I F167 xxx/a5 INVENTOW 6v la M M.

' Arrys Patented Jan. 9, 1951 SELVAGE FORMING MECHANISM FOR NEEDLE LooMs Philip Worth Robinson, Ombersley, England, assignor to '1. Bond Worth & Sons Limited, Severn Valley Mills, Stourport on Severn, England,

a British company Application December '7, 1948, Serial No. 63,870 In Great Britain December 10, 1947 15 Claims.

This invention relates to looms wherein double shot wefts are inserted in pairs through the warps by a. pair of weft needles. 3 inafter be referred to as looms of the kind speci- I fied.

Such looms will here- In my co-pending application for a patent warps, such method eliminating the use of shuttles commonly employed to pass a line of selvedge thread through such looped ends.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of and means for inserting selvedge thread through the pair of looped ends of a pair of double shot needle inserted wefts after each such pair is successively inserted through the warps.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide selvedge forming mechanism in or for a loom of the kind specified, which selvedge mechanism incorporates means for splitting one of the double shot needle inserted wefts to enable pile threads to be inserted into the fabric between the individual weft shots constituting the double shot, said means being adapted to release said weft shots at the required time to permit the usual beating-up action of the loom to be performed.

Still another object of the invention is to proride in or for a pile fabric loom, for instance, a carpet 100m, characterised by a considerable distance between the point where the weft is delivered and the point where it is eventually held in the warps, that is to say, a long beat-up, selvedge forming mechanism which includes means for transferring the looped weft ends from the first to the second position at which they are registered with each other with portions of their openings in alignment with each other, so that selvedge thread can then be inserted through these aligned loops and does not subsequently undergo appreciable displacement with resultant loosening or other undesirable effects on the selvedge as a result of the beating-up action oi the loom.

It is a further object of the invention to provide selvedge forming mechanism incorporating means for positioning precisely weft and selvedge thread loops to permit the passing therethrough of a further selvedge thread loop with certainty in operation notwithstanding slight irregularities in the jute commonly used for the weft.

Further objects of the invention and advandouble shot of weft H.

tages thereof will appear or will be pointed out in the remaining part of the specification or in the claims appended thereto. V

In the accompanying drawings there is shown in or for a loom of the kind specified one embodiment of selvedge forming mechanism according to the present invention, and there is also diagrammatically shown the performance of the new or improved method according to the invention.v

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic plan View showing a pair of weft loops in the process of being carried by their respective weft hooks towards an alignment station, the relative positions of the previously inserted selvedge thread loop and the selvedge thread needle also being indicated.

Figure 2 is a similar diagrammatic plan view showing the pair of weft loops in alignment, 2. selvedge thread loop having been passed through them and the selvedge thread needle in the process of retraction.

Figure 3 is a plan view of selvedge forming mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention in the position in which the weft needles are just about to enter the guide block of the selvedge forming mechanism.

Figure 4 is a view of the same mechanism in side elevation viewed from the direction in which the weft needles approach the mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the guide block in section on the line t-5 of Figure 3 and the positioning plate.

Figure 7 is a sectional view in end elevation on the line l--l of Figure 3 of the guide block with the weft needles received in their respective guide openings and the weft hooks in the position prior to engaging weft loops.

Figure 8 is a view in end elevation of the guide plate viewed in the forward direction of travel of the weft hooks and showing the weft loops aligned around the opening in the guide plate and positioned by the projection thereof.

In the construction of selvedge formingmechanism as shown in the drawings, the mechanism is intended for application to a loom for weaving pile fabrics wherein there is inserted simultaneously an upper double shot of weft it and a lower The weft-inserting needles !2 and it, Figure '7, are connected to a conventional form of mechanism, not shown in the drawings, to move them in the known mantransversely through the war t e needle I2 carrying a double shot of weft through the upper shed formed by the centrally disposed stuffer warps I l, and the upper binding chains and the lower weft needle l3 carrying a double shot of weft H between the stuffer warps M and the lower binding chains.

In the diagrams shown in Figure l and Figure 2, the upper and the lower binding chain are omitted to simplify the disclosure and the positions of the weft loops are shown; relatively to-ther I, pile fabric such as a carpet extra weight and stiffness.

It will be furthergunderstood that at'the edge n of the. fabric remote from that, at, which the selvedge mechanism .operates. the weft is.-..carri ed J around 7 the last warp of the binding chains. by reason of, the shedding of the binding, chains intermediate eachwithdrawal and insertion of the weft needles from and into their respective sheds so that at this edge of the fabric theweft is automatically bound-inwithout thenecessity for the provision ofseparate. selvedge forming mechanism. It is only atthe edge Ofthe fabric nearest thgleadingendof theweftnee-dlesat which such a separate mechanism for selvedge f forming is ,required because vof the impossibility of shedding the binding chains whilst the weft needlesremain in the sheds. to hold the weftloops or doubleshots of weft in position.

i In performing the Inethod of the invention, a; pair of double. shots,of weft. are inserted in ,the

usual manner by weft needles [Land 13 travelling through their respective.sheds. Theseloops farelheld with portions. of their openingsin align- .n' ent with each other.by a pair of weft hooks Ma and I5, as indicatedin Figure 2.

"In this position a selvedge thread. needlejll passes through the aligned weft loops carrying with it a selvedge thread which .is engaged by a selvedge thread hookgliland retained on .the hook to form a selvedge thread .loopQZfl, as

seen in Figure 2, whereupon the needle ,.ll,. is retr c ,The aligned weftloopsare subsequently released, whilst the selvedge thread hook .I 9 retains the selvedge thread loop m in the pathsof. the

l needle I! and thereleased weft loops are. then drawn, asshown at zl, by reason of the usual tensioning applied to the weft thread around the base of the retainedselvedgethread loop 20. In the next succeeding cycle ofoperations the needle ll passes through the next pair. of .weft loops held in alignment at the station It, see Figu're 2, and also passes through the retained weft loop 261' In this, position the. selvedge, thread hook I9 executes a lateral movement towards the "edge of the fabric, releasesthe retained loop .20 and subsequently makes a return, stroke away from" the edge'of the fabric passing between the s elvedge thread needle Handthe associated part oftheselvedge thread 18 lying along the needle so as to engage and retain a freshfselvedgethread l p "The needle 1 then retracted. and the sequence of operations repeated so as to. form which are encircled by weft loops, each selvedge thread loop itself encircling the base of the next succeeding selvedge thread loop, as seen in Figure 1.

,It will, of course, be understood that it is not necessary. that the selvedge thread hook I 9 should necessarily execute movements towards and .away from the edge of the fabric in carrying out the method of the invention.

stance, operate in a plane at right angles to the ,1=.=plane of the fabric.

It could, for in- Furthermore, it is not essential that. the selvedge thread needle l1 should move, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the plane ,of .the :fabricand parallel to the edge thereof.

It-could, for instance, operate at right angles to this plane, in which case the selvedge thread -hook l9 would be positioned on the side of the aligned weft'loops opposite to that of the needle in' itsretracted position and the needle I! could be either above or below the fabric.

In selvedge .forming mechanismfor carrying .,out..the .method of. the invention asshown in the drawings, there is. arranged at the-side of-the fabric at which the selvedge is tobe formed a guide block 22 in which there are provided two openings spaced one above the other the upper, .23, forv receiving the. leading end of the upper weft needle I2 and'the lower, 24,--for receiving the leading end of the lower weft needle I 3. The

. entrances of these openings are flared, as seen of the-conventional kind provided on the loom at ,the opposite edge .of the fabric from the selvedge-forming mechanism and consequently'a considerable transversely acting defiectional force is setuponeach of the weft needlesby the aforesaid action of the weft hooks.

The guide blockalso includes a guide opening 2'! which extends through the guide block-in a direction approximately parallel to the edge of the fabric in which opening the base portion 28 of the selvedge thread needle I! can reciprocate.

Each weft needle is provided with the usual eye or opening, as seen at 2.9,Figure 3, through which the-weft thread passes and is further provided with a recess or gap near its forward end to enable the weft thread to be drawn laterally away from the needle by the weft hooks. As seenin Figure 7, the weft loop ll) of the upper weft needle isspaced away from the base-30 of the gap in this needle leaving an opening through which the upper weft hookcan operate, and similarly the loop of weft thread H is spaced away from the base 3| of the gap-in the lower needle, this gap-being longer than that in the upper weft needle to accommodate an auxiliary presser member -32 attached to the lower weft-hook, for a purpose to be later described.

.The weft hook means in theembodiment of mechanism shown in the drawings, is-in the form of two hooked members one of these, the upper weft hook Ma, being adapted to engage weft from V the upper weft needle [2 and-the other, l5, being adapted to engage weft from the lower weft needle l3.

Th pper ookedmember Ma 1 comprises an arm 33 pivotally mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis,spaced laterally from the guide block on that side of it remote from the fabric, the hooked portion'of said member being formed integrally with the arm 33 and comprising a small, upstanding lug 33 at the forward end of the arm, said lug being provided with a nose 35 projecting forwardly from the lug in the direction in which the hooked member carries weft from its assocaited weft needle.

The arm 33 incorporates'a telescopic adjustment for length comprising clamping bolts 36 engaging in one telescopic part and passing through slotted openings in the other telescopic part to permit the nose of the arm to be adjustable in 100- sition so as to pass centrally through the gap near the end of the upper weft needle when this is at its limit of travel into its associated shed and, when the arm is turned on its pivotal mounting. the nose 35 travels in an arcuate path approximately parallel to the edge of the fabric and carries the lower shot or thread of weft loop picked up from the upper needle towards and to an alignment station level, or approximately level. to the fell of the fabric, the latter being indicated at 31, Figure 3, the upper shot of this loop or thread remaining in its former position held by the weft needle I 2.

The lower hooked member !5 comprises a somewhat similar assembly but in this case is formed of an arm 38 pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis at the lower end of the arm, the hooked por-- tion being formed by a forwardly projecting nose 39 which is not in the centre of the forward face of the arm but merges integrally with, and at that edge of the arm near, the fabric.

At the alignment station for the two weft loops picked up and carried forward by their respective weft hooks or hooked member, as described, there is provided a weft loop positioning and alignment device compris ng a small vertical plate 49. The plate 43 is provided with an opening 45 extending through it and positioned in the path of the selvedge thread needle I1, and the plate is further provided with a rearwarclly projecting nose .2 spaced for a small distance on that side of the opening 4| remote from the edge of the fabric.

As seen more especially in Figure 8, weft loops carried forward to the alignment station at which said device is positioned are held by their respective weft hooks Ma and i5 so that portions of the openings through these loops are in align ment with each other and with the opening ii in the plate 40, and the nose 42 serves to space the sides of the lower weft loop apart to prevent them closing together and failing to present openings through which the selvedge thread needle can pass and serves also to position these loops as aforesaid in alignment with the opening 4!.

It will be appreciated that although both upper and lower weft loops have portions of their openings in alignment with each other in the direction in which the selvedge thread needle travels through them, the planes of the loops at this time are not parallel since the upper shot or thread of the upper weft loop is held in the rear of the lower thread or shot thereof either by the upper weft needle or by separating means in the form of a lever arm 53, as will be later described, and the plane of this loop. is hence inclined rearwardly from the verticalrear face of the stationary positioning plate Alb, whilst the lower weft loop is held against the rear face of the stationary positioning plate 40 and is hence in a vertical, or approximately vertical, plane.

In order to ensure that the lower weft loop and the lower thread of the upper weft loop are held firmly against the rear face of the plate 40 at the alignment station, an auxiliary presser member 32 is secured to the arm 38 of the lower Weft hook [5. This auxiliary presser member 32 may take the form of a plate mounted in a vertical, or approximately vertical, plane the lower portion of the plate being formed as a cranked bracket for securing to the arm 38, and the forward edge of the plate at the lower portion thereof being approximately parallel to the length of the arm 38.

The upper forward edge of the plate is curved backwardly, as seen at 43, and terminates in an upstanding abutment 44, this particular form of edge being adopted to assist the upward and forward motion which it is required to give to the lower weft loop. Should the lower shot of the lower weft loop face engage the curved portion of the edge 43 in the travel of the lower weft hook l5 towardsv the alignment station, this shot is guided upwardly by the curved edge so that when the loop is held at the alignment station, this shot and both shots of the upper loop are both held by the abutment edge 4 1 against the return face of the plate 43 at the proper height with respect to the opening H in the plate.

On the side of the weft loop alignment and positioning device remote from the weft needles is provided a selvedge thread hook IQ, for convenience referred to as the selvedge hook. The selvedge hook is pivotally mounted on a vertical spindle t5, itself supported in hearings in a supporting framework 15, the upper part of which isseen in Figure 4.

The selvedge hook is so positioned that it is closely adjacent to the path of the selvedge thread needle ll so that as it oscillates back and forth on its pivotal mounting 65 it can pass between the selvedge thread and the needle and engage and retain a loop of this thread, as already described. Endwise movement'isalso imparted to the mounting spindle 45 of the selvedge hook so that when the latter is executing a stroke away from the edge of the fabric it is moved downwardly, and when executing the return stroke towards the edge of the fabric it is moved upwardly thereby facilitating the engagement, retention and subsequent release of loops of selvedge thread, as previously described. It will be appreciated that since the position of the weft loops at the alignment station is level with the stationary stuifer warps of fabric, as seen in Figure 8, it is necessary that in carrying the weft loops to the alignment station the upper weft hook should fall somewhat in its forward travel. whilst the lower weft hock should similarly rise by a corresponding amount. In order to accomplish this the spindle t! upon which the upper weft hook is mounted, which spindle is supported in suitable bearings in the supporting frame as, is moved endwise by a mechanism shown in detail in Figure 5.

The spindle ll is spring-loaded in an upward direction by means of a coiled compression spring 48 acting between a collar 49 fixed on the spindle and the upwardly directed face of the supporting frame 46 bordering on the lower bearing for the spindle. Intermediate the collar Q9 and the outer bearing for the spindle there is fixed to the spindle a face cam 563 the upper cam face of which era-op rates with a fixed projection 5i secured to ass-mas the supporting efra'me "t6 so that -as the spindle turns, in moving the upper weft'hookforw'ardly from the weftznee'dles to thealignmentstation, the spindle 4'! is depressed against the pressure of theicoiled spring 48.

In the case of the lower weft hook the position *of the pivotal'axis on which its ar-rn 38 is mounted is such that it is spaced forwardly'from the weft needles so that the nose-39 of thelower weft 'hook 'execute's a rising arcuate path of travel from 'thelower weft needle towards the alignment station.

@In'brder to prevent weft loops picked up by the weft'hooks from'slipping'over' the upper ends of the arm 38 or the lug 34, the respective noses '39 and 35 stand out from abutment faces formed by the'forward'faces of the arm 38 and the lug ".34 'so that the weft loops picked up are retained against these'abutment' faces at the bases of their respective noses.

It will be understood that in weaving a pile vfabridwhere it is required to insert pile between split portions of the upper double shot weft it is necessary to provide means for maintaining separation between the two weft'shots constituting the double upper weft shot prior to insertion of the pile. In the employment shown in the drawings'such means may conveniently take the form 'of ailever arm :52 pivoted on a horizontal axis to the guide :blockat53 and actuated by a link ii i'connected'to an extension arm 55 of the lever. The lower end of the lever arm. 52, when in its rearmost position, is such as to engage and obstruct the passage of weft threads carried forwafdfromthe upper weft needle towards the alignment'station by the upper weft hook. Actuation'of the link 54 is arranged to permit the upper weft needle to carry a weft thread forwards towards the alignmentstationand position this beneath the nose42 of the alignment and positioning'device whilst the upper weft needle remains in position in its guide opening. Prior to retraction of the upper weft needle the lever arm 52 is moved to its lower position by the link '54 "so 'thatwhen the upper weft'needle is retracted a single shot of weft is maintained level with the rear face of the lever arm 52, thus providing a wide horizontal separation between the align- ;ment station and the "lever arm 52 into which the pile can be inserted 'in the known manner of an Axminster spool loom. 'After such insertion the lever arm 52 is moved to release the upper shot of weft.

=The positioning plate 48 may be'provided with a grcove56 in the side wall of the opening 4! .nearest the edge of the fabric in order to'ensure "that retained loops'of selvedge thread, such as that shown at 29 diagrammatically in Figure 1, are 'not deflected out of the path'of the selvedge thread needle by local irregularities inthe edge of the fabric which these loops enter at their base, such as may be occasioned, for example; by lumps occurring in the jute from which the weft is ordinarily formed.

Thedriving means for the lower weft hook, the selvedge hook and selvedge thread needle may be asdescribed and illustrated in myco-pen'ding application, Serial No. 760,805, whilst the upper "weft'ho'ok may be driven by a suitable 'lini; pivotally connected to the arm 51, Figure 5, actuated by means of a cam similar 'to' that which 'drives the lowerwefthook. In' order to prevent the two weft'hooks fouling each other in their travel towards-the alignment station, movement 'g-iv'en to one-hook, for example the upper, in

of 'travel may have acommon portion they do not coincide at such a common portion.

-Foroperating the separating device for-*splitting apart the'upper weftgthelink 54 maybe connected to a cam-operated lever moving-in the required time relation to the other parts .of'the loom.

The sequence ofoperations of thevarious elements constituting the selvedgeformingmechanism is such'that the'method of 'theinvention, as hereinbefore set forth, is carried'out; such time relation being achieved with the driving'niechanism described and illustrated inmy co-perrding application, Serial'No.-760,805, aforesaid.

The selvedge thread is supplied to the selvedge thread needle-from a bobbin or equivalent bulk thread carrier mounted in any-c0nvenient1p0si tion at the rear of the loom, suita-bleten'sioning means of'known type being provided betweenthe bobbin or carrier and the needle.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of a-woven fabricdn which .a. pair of double shots of weft are'inserted by a pair of weft needles between each'sliedding operation of the warps, a method of bindirig'in such double shots of weft to'form a'selvedge edge at the edge of the fabriciemotefrom the edge at which the weft needles first enter the fabric, which method comprises the stepsof inserting a loop of selvedgethread'froma'bulk thread carrier through a pair of weft loops,'holding said inserted selvedge thread loop in such position that it is looped around the line defining the path of its insertion, inserting the next succeeding selvedge thread loop through'the next succeeding pair of weft loops and through the selvedge thread loop last inserted, and subsequently releasing the latter.

2. In or for a loom of" the kind wherein double shot weft are inserted in'pairs throughthe'warps by a pair of weft needles selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needleadapt- 'ed to earry'a selvedge thread; sad selvedge thread needlebeing mounted in a guide; means-for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the'weft, wefthook means comprising'a pairof hooked members, said hooked members being mounted-for movement transversely to'theweft enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards a weft loop'and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which 'weft'loops carried by said weft hook'means are'held with portions of their openings in alignment with each other, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle-and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles; said selvedge'hook'being movably mounted to execute -movements transverse- 1y to the selvedge threaded needle-and pass 'between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries, thereb enabling the selvedge hook .to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by'the selvedge'hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook inthe next succeeding cycle-'of' operations.

3. In or for a loom of the kind wherein double shot Weft are inserted in pairs through the warps by a pair of Weft needles selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle, so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap, and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to the weft enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards a weft loop and selvedge thread loop, alignment station at which weft loops carried by said hooked members are held with portions of their openings in alignment with each other, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries, thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hock being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

4. In or for a loom of the kind wherein double shot weft are inserted in pairs through the warps by a pair of weft needles selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the Weft, weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to the weft enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards a weft loop and selvedge thread loop, alignment station at which is provided a stationary member, said stationary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle and having a weft loop positioning and parting element so as to split apart the weft loops carried thereto by weft hook means and position said weft loops with portons of their openings in alignment with each other, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries, thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of Weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

5. In or for a m of the kind wherein double shot weft are inserted in pairs through the warps by a pair of weft needles selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap, and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, said hooked members being mounted" for movement transversely to the weft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards the fall of the fabric, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fell of the fabric, said stationary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

6. In or for a loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles mounted one above the other with respect to thickness of the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle, so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap, and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, one for engaging weft from the upper weft needle, and one for engaging weft from the lower weft needle, said hooked member being mounted for 1 1g movement transversely to'the weft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from theweft needles towards the fall of the fabric, the upper hooked member being pivotally mounted on vertical axis, the lower hooked member being pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fell of the fabric, said sta tionary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of th alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries thereby enabling theselvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedgethread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loops, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next suce'eding cycle of operations.

'7. In or for a loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles to carry weft threads from the weft needles, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transverselytothe weft substantialy parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle so that at each of saidgaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap and isengageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, saidweft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members one for engaging weft from the upper weft needle and one for engaging weft from the lower weft needle, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to the weft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards the fell of the fabric, the upper hooked member being pivotally mounted on a vertical axis and adapted to fall in its travel towards the fell ,ofthe fabric, the lower hooked member being pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis positioned forwardly of weft needles so that the lower hooked member is thereby adapted to rise in its travel towards the fell of the fabric, each of said hooked members being formed with a nose projecting in the forward direction of travel of said hooked members and standing out from a surface at the base of the nose, said surface constituting an abutment for the weft thread so as to prevent displacement of the weft thread rearwardly and down a supporting arm carrying the hooked member, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fell of the fabric, said stationary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, a sel vcdge hook positioned closely adjacent thepath of the selvedge thread nebdle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the'selvedge thread it carries thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook lel to that of the fabric and away from and being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge, hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

8. In or for a loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles mounted one above the other with respect to thickness of the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversel to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the'leading end of each needle so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base ofthe gap andis engageable to'be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transverselythereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, said hooked members being mountedffor movement transversely to theweftin a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards the fell of the fabric, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fell of the fabric, said stationary member having'an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, aselvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedgethread needle andon the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted on a pivotal axis to execute movements transverseiy to the selvedge threaded needle and pass be-' tween said needle and the selvedge thread it carries, said selvedge hook being operatively connected to it, means formoving it in a plane paraltowards the edge thereof, such movement being accompanied by respective falling and rising of the selvedgehook enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke,

these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously insertedselvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycie of operations.

9. In or fora loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided 'a pair of weft inserting ne dles mounted oneabove the other with, respect ats nis 13 to thickness of the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle so that at each' of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, one for engaging weft from the upper weft needle, and one for engaging weft from the lower weft needle, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to theweft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards the fell of the fabric, the upper hooked member being pivotally mounted on a vertical axis, the lower hooked member being pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fall of the fabric, said stationary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, and having a weft loop positioning and parting element comprising a projection extending rearwardly from the rear face of said stationary member, said projection being tapered in said rearward direction and positioned laterally of said opening so as to split apart the weft loops carried thereto by the weft hook means and position said weft loops with portions of their openings in alignment with each other and with the opening in said stationary member, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

10. In or for a loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles mounted one above the other with respect to thickness of the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the .gap'and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means 14 comprising a pair of hooked members, one fol engaging weft from the upper weft needle, and one for engaging weft from the lower weft needle, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to the weft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards the fell of the fabric, the upper hooked member being pivotally mounted on a vertical axis, the lower hooked member being pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which is provided a stationary member supported adjacent to the fell of the fabric, said stationary member having an opening extending through it in the path of the selvedge thread needle, and having a weft loop positioning and parting element comprising a projection extending rearwardly from the rear face of said stationary member, said projection being tapered in said rearward direction and positioned laterally of said opening so as to split apart the weft loops carried thereto by the Weft hook means and position said weft loops with portions of their openings in alignment with each other and with the opening in said stationary member, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment tation remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release thi loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed in relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needle so that a loop of selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations, said stationary member at the alignment station having a groove in the wall of its opening, said groove being positioned to receive the selvedge threads of said previously inserted selvedge thread loop and prevent displacement of said previously inserted loop out of alignment with the path of the needle.

11.111 or for a loom of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles mounted one above the other with respect to thickness of the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle being mounted in a guide block having a guide opening extending substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth in the guide opening transversely to the weft substantially parallel to the edge of the fabric, said weft needles each having a gap in one side at or near the leading end of each needle, so that at each of said gaps the weft thread is spaced away from the base of the gap, and is engageable to be drawn away from the associated weft needle by weft hook means moving transversely thereto, said weft hook means comprising a pair of hooked members, one for engaging weft from the upper weft needle, and one for engaging weft from the lower weft needle, said hooked members being mounted for movement transversely to the wef is.dire t a ienablin their o a y w ft hreads.

rom t e we t n edl s tow ds e Q he abr asa deuide bl a so av eeu d en-- srositiomd o cei e he ead n n s of the. weft, needles so astohold; these againstap:

piie able la ra defl t on. n h ef h ead en a i action. of sai oo e m mbe and. avin fur her u o e in s p s i ed to eceive said hooked members atthe rearward part fi-l h lf paths of travel, a weft loop and selvedge thread loop, alignment station at which is provided a stationary member. supported adjacent, to thee-i611- of the .fabric, said stationary member,

havin an opening extending through it in the porarily retain. a loop. of selvedge thread, from.

theselvedge .threadtneedle. onone stroke and release thisloop .on the return stroke, these move.- mentsbeing timed in relationto the reciproca: tlOIlzOf the selvedgesthread needle. so that a loop of selvedge thread. .is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops and the previously. inserted selvedge thread loop, said loop ofselvedge thread held by the selvedge hook-.being in such position that. it presents an opening in'the path oftthe selvedge thread needle andis releasedbythe selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

12. In or for a 100111- of the kind specified wherein there is provided a pair of weft inserting needles mounted one above the otherwith respect to, thickness of the fabric, said needles being adapted to insert a pair of double shots of -weft, one such double shot beingassociated with each needle, the upper double shot of weft serving to secure inserted pile againstwithdrawal from-the weft and warps of the fabric, and the t lower double shot serving to provide a relativelyfirm base forming a backing for the fabric, selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, said selvedge thread needle-being mounted in a guide, means for reciprocatingthe needle back and forth transversely to the weft, weft hookmeans-comprising apair-ofhookedmemof their openings in alignment: witheachother pesitionedclosely adjacent the p-a-th'of the 'selvedge thread needle and on the sideof the alignment stationremote from the weft-needles, saidselvedge hook being movably-mounted to' eXe-- cute movements transversely to the selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it-- carries 1 therebyenabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a, loop ofselvedge thread fromthe selvedge-thread needle-on one stroke and release this loop onthereturn stroke, these move mentsbeing timedin relation to the reciprocation of the selvedge thread needleso that a loop-of selvedgethread is-passed by the selvedge threadneedlathroueh a pairof weft-loopsand he; revi usly nse d1 lv dse thread 01 a ao e t lvede hr ad e y e e v d hook,-

being in such, position that it; presents an-open.. ing .-;in;the path of the selvedge thread needle and; isreleasedbythe selvedge hookin the next,-

succeeding cycle of operations, separating means 0. 1, the weft carried by the upper weft needle, said, separating means comprising a returning,

member mounted intermediate the weft needles. 1

relationto the weft hook means between two positions, in oneof which it allows the passage of weft carriedbythe upperv hooked member, and

.Finthe. otherofwhich it obstructs the movement of. the weft with the upper, hooked member, the movement of'theretaining member being such. that it isv brought into the. obstructing. position-i. after forwardmovement of the; upper hooked member. andbefore retraction of the upper weft needle backthroueh the fabric so .as to provide I aesplit upper. weft loop within the cilitatetheiinsertion of pile.

13. In orior, a loom of thekind specified where:

:iinr there. is provided a. pair of weft inserting fabric to. fa-

needlesmounted one above the other with respect to. thickness of the. fabric said. needles being adapted to insert a pairv of double shots of weft, onesuchdouble shot. being associated withv each.

weft. andwarpsv ofthe fabric, andthe lower. douole shot servingto provide arelatively firm base 1 forminga backing for. the fabric, selvledgeformmining-q.mechanism..comprising a. selvedge thread needle adapted tobarry a selvedge thread, said;

selvedgethreadlneedle' being mounted'in a guide block having a guide opening extending substan-e tially-parallelzto the edge of the fabric, means 40 fora-reciprocating theneedle back andforth in mounted for movement transversely to the weft enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towardsa-welt loop and selvedge thread loop-alignment station at which weft loops carried by said weft hook means are held with portions of their openings in alignment with each othen a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle, and on the side of the alignment stationremote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably nounted to execute movements transversely-to tlie-selvedge threaded needle and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread-it carries, thereby enabling the selvedge hook to engage and temporarily retain a loop of selvedge thread from the selvedge thread needle on one stroke and release this loop on the return stroke, these movements being timed inrelation to the reciprocation of the selvcdge thread needle so that a loopof selvedge thread is passed by the selvedge thread needle through a pair of weft loops andthe previously inserted selvedge thread loop, saiddoopgof selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents'an opening in the -p ath:of 'the selvedge andthealignment station, and having associated. therewith' means adaptedito actuate it in timed.

needle, the .upper double shot. of-weft serving to. secure inserted pile against withdrawal from the hooked members, said hooked members being thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations, separating means for the weft carried by the upper weft needle, said separating means comprising a retaining member in the form of a pivotal arm mounted intermediate the weft needles and the alignment station on the guide block, and having associated therewith means adapted to actuate it in timed relation to the Weft hook means between two positions, in one of which, it allows the passage of weft carried by the upper hooked member, and in the other of which it obstructs the movement of the weft with the upper hooked member, the movement of the retaining member being such that it is brought into the obstructing position after forward movement of the upper hooked member and before retraction of the upper weft needle back through the fabric so as to provide a split upper weft loop within the fabric to facilitate the insertion of pile.

14. In or for a loom of the kind wherein double shot weft are inserted in pairs through the warps by a pair of weft needles selvedge forming mechanism comprising a selvedge thread needle adapted to carry a selvedge thread, means for reciprocating the needle back and forth transversely to the weft, weft hook means mounted for movement transversely to the weft in a direction enabling them to carry weft threads from the weft needles towards a weft loop and selvedge thread loop alignment station at which weft loops carried by said weft hook mean are held with portions of their openings in alignment with each other, a selvedge hook positioned closely adjacent the path of the selvedge thread needle and on the side of the alignment station remote from the weft needles, said selvedge hook being movably mounted to execute movements and pass between said needle and the selvedge thread it carries,

, 18 loop of selvedge thread held by the selvedge hook being in such position that it presents an opening in the path of the selvedge thread needle and is released by the selvedge hook in the next succeeding cycle of operations.

15. In the manufacture of a Woven fabric in which a pair of double shots of weft are inserted by a pair of weft needles between each shedding operation of the warps, a method of binding in such double shots of weft to form a selvedge edge at the edge of the fabric remote from the edge at which the weft needles first enter the fabric, which method comprises the steps of withdrawing a loop of weft thread from each weft needle; moving said weft loops towards the fell of the fabric; holding said weft loops at a position adjacent to the fell of the fabric with portions of the loops in alignment with each other; inserting a loop of selvedge thread from a bulk thread carrier through said aligned weft loop portions; holding said inserted selvedge thread loop in such position that it is looped around the line defining the path of its insertion; releasing the weft loops; inserting the next succeeding selvedge thread loop through the next succeeding pair of weft loop portions which are withdrawn from the weft needles, moved towards, and held in alignment with each other adjacent to the fell of the fabric in a like manner to the first said pair, and through the selvedge thread loop last inserted; releasing the latter and the second said pair of weft loops.

PHILIP WORTH ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,296,025 Waite Mar. 4, 1919 1,604,365 Mutzberg Oct. 26, 1926 1,970,443 Cooper et al. Aug. 14, 1934 2,144,912 Clutsom Jan. 24, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 119,558 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1918 141,337 Germany 1 June 9, 1903 

